Now this is the story all about how
My life got flipped, turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute just sit right there
I'll tell you how I became a member of an organization called the World Race.
I hope all of you get the reference above! (Fresh Prince) 🙂 The last line needs work…haha. Because it's the only one I needed to change the words too.
Let me first say that I was introduced to the world race a few years ago because friend of mine, Joshua, had the opportunity to go on it. When I heard his testimony of his experience, the Lord really put a calling on my heart that this is something that I was probably meant to do. However, I did not pursue it at that time because I was in college and I was on track of becoming a physical therapist. Academics were the only thing on my mind because I needed a stellar GPA to be considered for physical therapy school. So I continued to pursue PT school and began the application process. During the application process I became very uneasy about becoming a physical therapist. I was not at peace with the decision and I didn't feel like it was where God wanted me to be. I sought advice from many people trying to figure out what I should do. I began praying and seeking the Lord about this decision and the World Race kept popping up into my mind. I asked the Lord to fully close the door on PT school if that was not where He wanted me to be. Even though I received excitement and a passion during my quiet time with the Lord for the World Race, I still continued with the application process for PT school. I couldn't give up on that dream; I felt that if I did I would be letting people down and myself down.
I soon received word that I was granted an interview with NAU's physical therapy program. I was ecstatic, all my worries had disappeared for that moment. But I still continued to seek the Lord and pray that He would close the door if I wasn't supposed to be there. To be honest, I prayed for the Lord to close the door because he was continuing to create a passion in me for the world race. When it came time for my interview with NAU's PT program the World Race slipped from my mind. All my focus was on my interview, in hopes of being accepted into the program. After the interview took place, I believed it went well! Granted, there were questions that you could chalk up to nerves, but overall I thought it went very well. They told us that we would find out the results within a couple days if we were accepted or not into their PT program. I waited patiently, well tried to at least, to hear if I was accepted.
The Monday following my interview I woke up in the middle of the night and happened to check my phone. I had an email and a Facebook message so I decided to check the Facebook message first. The Facebook message was from a friend of mine who interviewed with NAU's PT program the same day as I did. She explained that she was on the waiting list and she asked me if I was accepted. I soon became very excited and I checked the email that I had seen on my phone. But the email was not from NAU- I was heartbroken and distraught because I knew that, that meant I was not accepted into their program. However the email that I had received was from the World Race saying "apply now!" I literally looked up to the ceiling and cried, "God what are you saying to me?" That night was an extremely rough night, I got maybe two hours of sleep. I felt like a failure, I had worked my entire academic career to become a physical therapist and my dream suddenly disappeared. This might sound cocky but I really thought I was going to be accepted into physical therapy school. I have an outstanding GPA, great letters of recommendation, and countless hours of work within the field. It took me a few days to really understand that I got what I had prayed for. For the Lord to close the door on physical therapy school if that wasn't where He wanted me to be.
I learned so much in the week following my rejection from PT school and I wouldn't take it back for anything. I realized that I had not given everything in my life up to The Lord, and this experience made me completely trust Him and know that He had a plan for my life. He deepened and strengthened my faith so much. It took a couple weeks to get my butt in gear and apply for the World Race. But once I did, everything fell into place and all of the necessary doors opened up! I know this is where the Lord wants me to be and I continue to be affirmed of this as well. I am so excited for what the Lord is going to be doing in my life during these next 11 months and what is going to be accomplished through myself and my teammates.
